459 Indian-Origin Truck Drivers Lose Licences Amid Document Fraud Case In New Zealand

Last Updated:December 01, 2025, 17:30 IST

New Zealand cancelled 459 heavy-vehicle licences of Indian-origin drivers over fake documents, sparking protests, financial distress, and debate on reliance on migrant labour

The move came after the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) uncovered serious irregularities in the conversion of overseas heavy-vehicle licences. (Representational Image: AP)

In a development that has sent shockwaves through migrant communities, transport regulators in a far-flung island nation have cancelled the heavy-vehicle licences of 459 truck drivers of Indian origin, triggering financial distress, street-level protests and a fresh debate over the country’s dependence on foreign labour.

The move came after the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) uncovered serious irregularities in the conversion of overseas heavy-vehicle licences. An internal audit, officials said, revealed that a large number of applications were backed by fake or altered documents, a finding that prompted immediate cancellations. The first wave saw 440 licences scrapped; the tally has since climbed to 459.

According to a regulatory report, all affected drivers are of Indian origin, with 436 cases linked to UAE-issued documents, 18 tied to Australia, and 5 to Canada. Crucially, none of the cancellations involve Indian-issued licences directly, as New Zealand does not grant exemptions to Indian licence-holders, requiring them instead to undergo full testing.

For dozens of families, however, the distinction offers little comfort.

For years, thousands of Indian drivers arriving in the island nation reportedly relied on online “support letters", purchased for the equivalent of Rs 27,000 to Rs 54,000. These documents, long accepted by immigration and transport authorities, helped fast-track licence approvals and, by extension, work visas.

The arrangement functioned smoothly until regulators reclassified the letters as entirely illegal, prompting a sweeping review. Licences and visas obtained through such documents are now under the scanner, and many have already been invalidated. The once-popular shortcut, authorities say, has been “closed permanently".

Most of the affected drivers are young migrants in their early 30s who had already cleared both practical and theory tests. For many, trucking was not just a job, but a way to stabilise their families’ futures.

On November 22, the simmering anxiety spilled into public view as scores of Indian drivers and their families gathered at the Takanini Gurdwara in Auckland, demanding relief and a path to reinstatement.

“We have no income left, how do we feed our children?" said Amritpal Singh, one of the affected drivers. Another driver, Parminder Singh, broke down as he admitted he could no longer afford his house rent.

Transport operators echoed the anguish. Industry members Navjot Sidhu and Ranjit Singh said UAE-issued documents were accepted for years without questions, making recruitment smoother. “The rules have changed overnight, but the drivers are paying the price," one operator remarked.

The crackdown comes at a time when the country is grappling with a long-standing shortage of truck drivers. In 2022, the deficit stood at 3,449 drivers, a gap that migrant workers, especially Indians, have steadily filled.

A 2025 workforce report revealed that Asian drivers, predominantly Indians, now account for nearly 20% of the national trucking industry, underlining the sector’s dependence on foreign labour.

Amid the backlash, MP Parmjeet Parmar has written to Transport Minister Simeon Brown, urging the government to consider the plight of “hard-working migrants who stepped in when the industry needed them the most".

News world 459 Indian-Origin Truck Drivers Lose Licences Amid Document Fraud Case In New Zealand

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